Originally Posted by BlUEMDsrt6
That whole thing about the car being at idle at like stop and go traffic on a hot day is why I suggested the air boxes. I'm sure if the car is moving at highway speeds or atleast 30mph air circulation would be sufficient enough to make it a lil cooler in the engine bay where his filters are located. But on a hot day from a stop, I don't see how sucking in the hot engine bay air is beneficial. You cant sit there and tell me its away from the engine enough where this wouldn't be a problem, because I can feel the heat from the engine when its been running a long time when i'm sitting in the drivers seat. I like the way the intake looks (BDJ) better than Needswings. I'm sure you have already thought of this "problem" I have spoken about and coming from a guy who doesn't know a whole lot on intakes and such you could probably brush it off as someone who doesn't know what they are talking about trying to sharp shoot, but from a logical standpoint this issue would seem to me as a "real problem" with the design of your intake.
On the Needswings comment, I have almost no doubt that this intake will be the best power producer. The intakes appears well made/designed and IMO looks nice. The problem I have with it is that it makes the engine compartment look ugly and bare. It just looks like something is missing and is totaly not asthetically pleasing in any way (engine bay as a whole, not necessarily the intake). I don't know which intake I will end up buying but more and more I am leaning towards the SL55 just cause I know it has power gains (how much remains to be seen) and its the best looking IMO. Not trying to knock anybody, thats just how I feel.
I think you'll find that the supercharger is going to super-heat the intake air no matter where it comes from. The larger the crank pulley - the greater the heat generated.
Drive your car, then let it idle for about 10-15 min. Pop the hood and feel the intake components prior to the SC ie.. the intake tubes, airboxes and Y-pipe and pull an intake tube and feel the air filter.
Then touch (but be careful - hot! hot! hot!) the plenum covers, the supercharger and the metal collector in the back of the engine. (Intake components after the passing thru the SC) This is where the majority of the heat is being generated.
If you want cooler IAT - no matter what intake system you decide to pony up for; A larger capacity HE, separate surge tanks and possibly the Johnson Marine water pump. This is probubly the second best performance mod (1st being a larger pulley) if you run on hot days and worry that exccesive IAT will be pulling timing on you.
As for low cost effective intake mod that retains the stock look - I suggest Steve's mod. An SL55 Y-pipe, K&N filters and eliminate the intake squeeze at the radiator support. I would say around $130 mod.
Is that about right Steve?
EDIT -
I forgot the plenum spacers from EvoSport and possibly a cooler radiator thermostat offered on the MBWorld forum.